Analysis toxicity by different methods and anxiolytic effect of the aqueous extract Lippia sidoides Cham.

Lippia sidoides Cham. (Verbenaceae) is a species often mentioned in traditional medicine due to the medicinal properties attributed to its leaves, which include antibacterial, antifungal, acaricidal and antioxidant. Several of these actions have been scientifically proven, according to reports in the literature; however, little is known about toxicological aspects of this plant. This work included studies to determine the chemical composition and toxicity tests, using several methods aiming to evaluate the safety for use of the aqueous extract of L. sidoides leaves, in addition, the anxiolytic effect on adult zebrafish was investigated, thus contributing to the pharmacological knowledge and traditional medicine concerning the specie under study. The chemical profile was determined by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry-HPLC/MS with electrospray ionization. Toxicity was evaluated by zebrafish, Drosophila melanogaster, blood cells, and Artemia salina models. 12 compounds belonging to the flavonoid class were identified. In the toxicity assays, the observed results showed low toxicity of the aqueous extract in all tests performed. In the analysis with zebrafish, the highest doses of the extract were anxiolytic, neuromodulating the GABAa receptor. The obtained results support the safe use of the aqueous extract of L. sidoides leaves for the development of new drugs and for the use by populations in traditional medicine.

Annona Genus: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities.

Species from the Annona (Anonaceae) genus are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Ethnobotanical studies provide information regarding the plant part and the preparation method being used, while scientific studies such as in vitro, in vivo, and clinical tests can provide evidence supporting ethnopharmacological reports, directing studies towards the isolation of compounds which may be active for specific pathologies. Annona muricata and Annona squamosa were the most commonly reported species from those studied, with Annona cherimola and Annona classiflora also standing out. Acetogenins were the most commonly isolated metabolite class due to their cytotoxic properties, with flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and peptides also being reported. Many species from the Annona genus have proven biological activities, such as antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal. The present review had as its objective to facilitate access to ethnobotanical, chemical and biological information in order to direct future researches.

Antibiotic-Potentiating Activity of Phanostenine Isolated from Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler.

Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler is well studied and investigated for its antiasthmatic properties, but there are no data in the literature describing antibacterial properties of alkaloids isolated from this botanical species. This work reports the isolation and characterization of phanostenine obtained from roots of C. sympodialis and describes for the first time its antimicrobial and antibiotic modulatory properties. Phanostenine was first isolated from Cissampelos sympodialis and its antibacterial activities were determined. Chemical structures of the alkaloid isolate were determined using spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Phanostenine was also tested for its antibacterial activity against standard strains and clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined in a microdilution assay and for the evaluation of antibiotic resistance-modifying activity. MIC of the antibiotics was determined in the presence or absence of phanostenine at sub-inhibitory concentrations. The evaluation of antibacterial activity by microdilution assay showed activity for all strains with better values against S. aureus ATCC 12692 and E. coli 27 (787.69 mm). The evaluation of aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance-modifying activity showed reduction in the MIC of the aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin and neomycin) when associated with phanostenine, MIC reduction of antibiotics ranging from 21 % to 80 %. The data demonstrated that phanostenine possesses a relevant ability to modify the antibiotic activity in vitro. We can suggest that phanostenine presents itself as a promising tool as an adjuvant for novel antibiotics formulations against bacterial resistance.

Antioxidative effect and phytochemical profile of natural products from the fruits of "babaçu" (Orbignia speciose) and "buriti" (Mauritia flexuosa).

Orbignya speciosa and Mauritia flexuosa are two native palm tree species found in Brazil. Their fruits are rich in edible fixed oils, which are used for many purposes in industry, such as in the manufacture of soaps, surfactants and margarines. The aim of this work was to characterize the chemical profiles and antioxidant properties of the methanol extracts obtained from the fruits of O. speciosa and M. flexuosa. The chemical prospection was carried out using specific qualitative tests to evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds (tannins and flavonoids) in the extracts of both species. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were analyzed by the following methods: production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) from phospholipids, deoxyribose degradation, radical-scavenging activity-DPPH, iron chelation assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The methanolic extracts obtained from M. flexuosa and O. speciosa presented significant antioxidant activities, although M. flexuosa presented higher antioxidant activity than O. speciosa. In conclusion, M. flexuosa and O. speciosa are important sources of antioxidant substances that may be useful in the development of new products to prevent diseases associated with oxidative stress.